xthetenth

Bring a retarded idea to life!:
Hitler/Stalin/King Kerbal has given you a bunch of drawings for retarded weapons provided by an idiot relative. Your job is to bring these ideas to life in as practical a manner as possible without making the results look too different from the drawings.
Failure is punishable by death/gulag/volunteering for a mun shot.
Edit: drawings and descriptions of a selection of retarded weapons would be provided, but the contestants could also bring in their own, so long as it is someone else's work and has sufficient levels of description (size, mass, components, performance etc) to be modelled. Modelling would be done using something like KSP or simpleplanes, and the contestant would have to show that the design works to at least a limited extent (the closer you can get to the retarded design's paper stats the better). The contestant would also have to describe what changes were made to make the retarded idea work, with points for creative solutions that still allow the resulting design to look like the drawing it is based on.
For the purposes of judging, it should be assumed that the idiot relative is looking over everyone's shoulder and checking the contestant's work against his 'vision' for the weapon. So the contestant blatantly subverting it by, for instance, sneaking a turbojet into what is supposed to be a piston-powered supersonic fighter, would be grounds for death/gulag/mun shot.

I learned that Yorktown seems to basically just have been the US' best fleet carrier up till Midway, it's not just a combat experience from Coral Sea thing like Shattered Sword claims. They were the ones who came up with the stopgap solution to US fleet carriers not having nearly enough fighters in the early days of taking the scout SBDs on, gassing them up and adding them to the CAP to take on torpedo bombers and even at Coral Sea were bundling up their air wing into coordinated strikes (scout bombers go up first and circle, torp bombers take off and go straight to the target, then fighters go up a bit later, and they bundle up with their bombers en route, with the TBDs using a handheld light to show the dive bombers up above where they are).
 
So it wasn't just Midway, it seems that Yorktown's officers had the best grasp of things at the start of the war.
 
Also man was there a fighter shortage, it makes my HoI 4 shortage of modern types feel a lot less depressing.
 
(Source is The First Team).

I learned that Yorktown seems to basically just have been the US' best fleet carrier up till Midway, it's not just a combat experience from Coral Sea thing like Shattered Sword claims. They were the ones who came up with the stopgap solution to US fleet carriers not having nearly enough fighters in the early days of taking the scout SBDs on, gassing them up and adding them to the CAP to take on torpedo bombers and even at Coral Sea were bundling up their air wing into coordinated strikes (scout bombers go up first and circle, torp bombers take off and go straight to the target, then fighters go up a bit later, and they bundle up with their bombers en route, with the TBDs using a handheld light to show the dive bombers up above where they are).
 
So it wasn't just Midway, it seems that Yorktown's officers had the best grasp of things at the start of the war.
 
Also man was there a fighter shortage, it makes my HoI 4 shortage of modern types feel a lot less depressing.
 
(Source is The First Team).

I learned that Yorktown seems to basically just have been the US' best fleet carrier up till Midway, it's not just a combat experience from Coral Sea thing like Shattered Sword claims. They were the ones who came up with the stopgap solution to US fleet carriers not having nearly enough fighters in the early days of taking the scout SBDs on, gassing them up and adding them to the CAP to take on torpedo bombers and even at Coral Sea were bundling up their air wing into coordinated strikes (scout bombers go up first and circle, torp bombers take off and go straight to the target, then fighters go up a bit later, and they bundle up with their bombers en route, with the TBDs using a handheld light to show the dive bombers up above where they are).
 
So it wasn't just Midway, it seems that Yorktown's officers had the best grasp of things at the start of the war.
 
Also man was there a fighter shortage, it makes my HoI 4 shortage of modern types feel a lot less depressing.
 
(Source is The First Team).

Israel + Brexit = ER visit

If ever there was a time to turn off the game chat that isn't literally all the time, it's now.

If ever there was a time to turn off the game chat that isn't literally all the time, it's now.

It's not exactly wrong...

Good job, Nigel.
 
"If we leave, we can save 350 million pound a week!!"
 
*leave*
 
"Eh maybe I lied"

This thread is for posting videos of history lectures.  This thread is not for documentaries.  Any lecture topic is ok, just as long as it's historical and the video is of decent quality.  
 
I'll start with some video series from Yale University.  They have been recording and posting on youtube entire courses.  Watching these is like going to college but without having to write papers or do the readings.  
 
Yale Professor Paul Freedman on the Early Middle Ages
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8JcWVRFp8&list=PL851F45079A91C3F2
 
 
Yale Professor Josh Murtaugh on the Civil War.  
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXXp1bHd6gI&list=PL24F7549F2D39E590
 
 
Yale Professor Joanne Freeman on The American Revolution
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shTBSGoYtK0&list=PLHR1pLbjzH0oHIVt1WTGFxWRfWC08RAtU
 
 
Yale Professor Donald Kagan on Ancient Greek History
 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL023BCE5134243987
 
 
Yale Professor John Merriman on European Civilization 1648 - 1945
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IgKHHAjV8Y&list=PL3A8E6CE294860A24

I'm having fun with Battlefleet Gothic: Armada, but I'm a tabletop BFG/40k fan, so no surprise there. 

Which brand video card? It really depends on that because that decides whether you're getting gsync or freesync.
 
I'm currently running an Asus XR341CK I got refurbed for $600, which is a great deal. Ultrawide's on the table for Freesync in a way that it isn't for gsync which only has the Acer X34 and the Asus PG348Q. The price difference between them and what I've got is literally the price difference of a high end card, so I'm getting a high end card next time AMD releases some (I really want that Fury X cooler on a good card). There's also some screens like the LG 34UM88-B. Ultrawides are crazy sweet in my opinion but they do come with tradeoffs.
 
Gsync seems to have all its best screens in the 1440p 144+ Hz range like Matt's screen. The Acer XB271HU is really nice, Asus has the PG279Q, if you want to go a bit cheaper there's the Dell S2716DG which is a really nice screen but is TN rather than IPS and thus not the same level of pretty. The Freesync screens are a bit less heavy on the price tag but do come with some limits (IE don't generally have a freesync range up to 144 Hz).
 
Main thing is that you're looking for high framerate, IPS and resolution at a reasonable price, and in Freesync land you're looking for a maximum framerate on the range that's 2.5 times that of the bottom if possible. That lets you drop below the minimum without nasty effects.

Gripen E revealed:
 

 
External changes from the previous gripens include an new IRST above the radar, some sort of ECM-looking dongles on the wingtips, two more weapon stations, single-wheel front landing gear, and rear landing gear that retracts into a fairing between the wings and fuselage instead of into the fuselage.
 
Internal changes include a new AESA radar, a new engine with 25% more thrust, and more internal fuel courtesy the redesign of the rear landing gear.

Odds are that one torpedo against an Iowa would have damaged her range and speed more than her chances of staying afloat. I'm not sure how well her shafts were protected, there's always the chance of a hit like PoW took, but other than that modern battleships usually did pretty well against contemporary torpedoes. US carriers that had a TDS (Jesus fucking christ, Wasp) usually did pretty well, I bet the UK ones would have done fine, since it seems the Japanese problems were poor ventilation and avgas storage that was pretty weak against shocks, and that's particular to their ships.
 
As an example, the North Carolina ate a torp from the spread that killed Wasp just forward of the number 1 turret. That wasn't really back far enough to catch the TDS full on, but her list was righted quickly and she was able to maintain formation at 26 kn. On the other hand, the Kongo ate two torps from the Sealion, flooded two of her boiler rooms, and caused progressive flooding (going fast enough to keep the sub from a follow on shot caused wave action to hammer away at her now exposed insides) that eventually caused her to list and be obviously sinking when she exploded.

I learned that I have a recurrent corneal erosion. I also learned that a go-to treatment for it is a viable way to treat my eyes not actually being very good at focusing light (PRK), so that's nice.
 
For those who don't know what recurrent corneal erosion is, it's when the cornea and epithelium don't stick together as well as they should so when your eyes get dry in the morning the epithelium might just decide it likes the eyelid more and suddenly all the nerves at that attachment suddenly get exposed. I've got a real good idea why you get pain pills when they open the eye up there for surgery.

Odds are that one torpedo against an Iowa would have damaged her range and speed more than her chances of staying afloat. I'm not sure how well her shafts were protected, there's always the chance of a hit like PoW took, but other than that modern battleships usually did pretty well against contemporary torpedoes. US carriers that had a TDS (Jesus fucking christ, Wasp) usually did pretty well, I bet the UK ones would have done fine, since it seems the Japanese problems were poor ventilation and avgas storage that was pretty weak against shocks, and that's particular to their ships.
 
As an example, the North Carolina ate a torp from the spread that killed Wasp just forward of the number 1 turret. That wasn't really back far enough to catch the TDS full on, but her list was righted quickly and she was able to maintain formation at 26 kn. On the other hand, the Kongo ate two torps from the Sealion, flooded two of her boiler rooms, and caused progressive flooding (going fast enough to keep the sub from a follow on shot caused wave action to hammer away at her now exposed insides) that eventually caused her to list and be obviously sinking when she exploded.

I wonder what Bronezhilet is going to post next...

..oh.
 
 








 
 
Sometimes we repaint our equipment:






 
... yeah we like orange.

http://patch.com/oregon/portland/oregon-standoff-latest-ammon-bundy-s-lawyers-say-charges-should-be-dropped-because-feds-dont-own?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link
 
Edit: And a somewhat amusing 'cast of characters' about our Yeehawdi asshole crew.
 
Here you go folks, your cast of characters, with a few new additions!

Sean Anderson: The rather obese gentleman who was one of the last four holdouts. Damaged several sites sacred to the local Paiute tribe with heavy construction equipment as part of their bizarre claim that they were legally entitled to the land because they were "improving it" while the government allegedly neglected it.

Ammon Bundy: Son of deadbeat rancher Cliven "Let me tell you about the Negro" Bundy. Neither a rancher nor an Oregonian. Tax deadbeat. The awful, oppressive evil government gave him a low-interest small business federal loan, when the private sector told him to shove his shiatty credit rating up his ass sideways.

Ryan Bundy: The guy with the facial paralysis. Brother of Ammon. Neither a rancher nor an Oregonian. Proudly homeschools his kids with a science curriculum that teaches Geocentrism. Despite being somewhat well off, lives in a filthy hovel that he believes he has no responsibility to maintain, because, I quote, "zoning laws are Communist." Lengthy arrest record in Utah, yet kept getting incredibly light slaps on the wrist as a repeat offender. I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with being a conservative Mormon good ol' boy, amirite folks?

Brian "Booda" Cavalier: Claimed to be a former U.S. Marine Scout/Sniper, with service in Iraq and Afghanistan. No military service whatsoever. An ex-con with a lengthy record, with felony convictions barring him from legally owning firearms. He's the doofus in the "Major League Sniper" hat. Allegedly left the site after his made-up military service offended the other guys with made-up military service, but later returned.

Shawna Cox: One of the few women arrested for their involvement. Filed a lawsuit against the federal government for, "damages from the works of the devil in excess $666,666,666,666.66" when she was released from custody.

Blaine Cooper: Claimed to be a U.S. Marine veteran. Signed up for the Marines under the Delayed Entry Program, never reported to USMC boot camp. Usually strutting around in Army Multi-Cam. His wife is also allegedly at the site. Has a rap sheet a mile long, and cannot legally possess firearms. That's not his original name. He legally changed it. If it sounds familiar, it's Jesse Ventura's character's name from Predator.

Bruce Doucette:  Owner of a computer repair shop in Denver and self-appointed "U.S. Superior Court Judge."  He announced he would form a Committee of Public Safety (people who have studied the French Revolution, enjoy your facepalm) to pick "citizen grand juries" to arrest, try, and execute anyone who interfered with the Bundy Militia.

Duane Ehmer : Became involved in the militia movement when his felony conviction barred him from legally possessing firearms.

LaVoy Finicum: Huh, an actual rancher. His "income" (his words) was running a foster kid orphanage out of his house and collecting over $110,000 annually from a government-financed charity. This capitalist libertarian hero was most likely using his foster kids as government-funded ranch hands, and still couldn't turn a profit. Was previously see hiding under a blue tarp. He was shot and killed by the Oregon State Police after running a roadblock then confronting Oregon State Police troopers and repeatedly reaching for a 9mm in his jacket.

David Fry:Neo-Nazi and ISIS supporter, he likes both over their shared hatred of Jews. On-site communications and social media officer. He was the last to surrender, on the conditions that the United States government agree to stop making mutant super-soldiers.

Kelly Gneiting: The dude strutting around in a diaper challenging Gov. Chris Christie to a sumo wrestling match. This passionate defender of the United States Constitution is part of a militia whose endgame is to overthrow the government and establish a Mormon theocracy.

Captain Moroni:Won't give his real name. Named after a figure in Mormon scripture. Based on his ridiculous choice in camouflage patterns and the fact he's wearing a hot climate boonie hat in January (he eventually put a knit cap on, then put the boonie hat back on OVER it), I doubt he's actually been in the military.

Joe "Captain O" O'Shaugnessy: Claims to be a captain in some Arizona militia. Allegedly fled the site after stealing their donation jar to go get drunk at a local motel.

Ryan Payne: Claimed to be a former Army Ranger. Actually served in U.S. Army with two deployments to Iraq. But was never a Ranger. Never attended (much less graduated) from Ranger School, and was never assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment, even in a support role. Amended this to being part of a Secret Squirrel unit for the XVIII Airborne Corps. Always writes it as "18," despite the Army is very specific that Corps-level units use Roman numerals. He believes slavery is a myth perpetuated by the liberal media to slander white Southerners, and numerous anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.

Jason Patrick: Skipped out on bail for making terrorist threats against various law enforcement officials in Georgia. Part of his bail was not to possess firearms. He was photographed at the site openly carrying weapons.

Maureen Peltier:Their Facebook Communications Officer who is not actually at the site. She claims to be a current member of the Washington State National Guard, but has not attended drill since 2014. This anti-government warrior is currently appealing her pending discharge to score a full disability retirement. She is also a "person of interest" in the theft of explosives from her battalion's armory, after one of her anti-government buddies in their guard battalion tried to sell stolen explosives to an undercover ATF agent.  Her fellow Dildonians may have recently turned on her, believing her to be a government mole.

Jon Ritzheimer: Actual U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Served in Iraq with a Motor Transportation Company as a truck driver. Claims to have seen extensive combat, yet never earned a Combat Action Ribbon. Says he was kicked out of the USMC Reserve for having "excessive tattoos." At the time of his discharge, the USMC tattoo policy did not prohibit excessive tattoos, only those that were racist or showed solidarity with extremist hate groups. He is financially supported by his government disability check and his wife's job. Star of the I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE DILDO video. He was identified as the person who spotted a local Burns woman wearing a BoLM shirt, and threatened to kill her and burn her house down with her family. She later reported vehicles with out-of-state plates repeatedly driving past her house.

Peter Santilli: Claimed to be a "journalist" covering the occupation and exempt from any criminal charges. Swore he'd never be taken alive. This tough guy also threatened a local teenage Burns, Oregon girl because she stated she was afraid of the militia, so he called her a liar and a whore for the feds.  Surrendered to police with no resistance.

Joseph Arthur Stetson:Arrested for DUI en route to the site. Claimed to be a retired U.S. Army Special Forces colonel, whose records were personally sealed by President Reagan. None of the math adds up on his age, alleged rank and claimed military service with Reagan's term in office. At least one conviction for domestic violence, for vandalizing his ex-wife's trailer. He was armed with a pellet gun, and reportedly upset that his domestic violence convictions legally banned him from owning real guns (notice a theme here?).

Neil Wampler:Became involved with the militia movement because he was outraged that he is no longer legally allowed to own firearms, over the minor issue of being convicted of murdering his own father. When asked how they felt about having a convicted murderer in their militia, the Bundy brothers and LaVoy Finicum claimed to have never heard of him, and deny he's at the site. Yes, there are photographs of him wandering around the site.


BONUS ROUND!

Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore: "Negotiated" the final surrender. Another proud, independent government hater who would starve to death without her monthly government check. She runs a questionable medical practice out of her home that has billed Medicare for over $6 million dollars, and currently refusing to cooperate with a fraud investigation. Owes the IRS over a million dollars in back taxes. Believes cancer is a "fungus" and can be cured by drinking baking soda mixed with Listerine, or some shiat. Is a gun-nut who doesn't seem to know much about guns, since she threatened to fill any Syrian refugees housed in Nevada with "brass" (not lead. Brass is usually used to make the harmless shell casings). Financed her own ridiculous Mary Sue movie about a chubby housewife who moves from rural Nevada to L.A. and becomes an overnight pop sensation, starring herself and That Guy From The TV Version of Alien Nation.

Franklin Graham: Son of pastor Billy Graham, who was also involved in the negotiations of the final surrender. Took time out from making Tweets chiding black people getting shot by the police for not following police instructions to the letter, to praise the militia members defiance of the FBI and the Oregon State Police.

Washington state Rep. Graham Hunt: A passionate supporter of the militia and has personally visited them at the site, former member of Ted Cruz's Washington election campaign. Claims to have seen extensive combat on multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and claims to have been wounded in combat at least twice. His records show he deployed once for six months to a base in Saudi Arabia hundreds of miles safely away from the Iraq border, was never wounded, and never saw combat. He can't remember the names of the units he supposedly deployed with, and his version has his Arizona Air National Guard squadron unrealistically deploying something like five times in seven years. He also posted a digitally altered photograph which he claims depicted him just narrowly surviving a mortar attack in 2005. It is actually two soldiers from an Ohio National Guard Military Police Company who just witnessed several Iraqi children severely wounded by a bomb blast in 2003. Their Army insignia was 'shopped out and replaced with Air Force insignia. Multiple people, including other Marines and Airmen, have said he flat-out stated he was a decorated Marine infantryman. He later claimed that his fellow veterans "misunderstood him," and are just too damn stupid to understand he was part of a joint USAF-USMC task force. He can't remember the name of this supposed task force, either. He also been seen at biker rallies wearing leather cuts emblazoned with Army Special Forces patches. He finally resigned after stalling saying the usual phony veteran, "my dog ate my military records..which were like, totally classified anyway." song and dance. Still insists THE TRUTH IS STILL OUT THERE.

Washington state Rep. Matt Shea: Similar deal as Hunt. Gun nut who wrote an open-carry bill riddled with fake quotes about gun ownership falsely attributed to the Founding Fathers, using incredibly obvious anachronistic language. Was arrested for pulling a gun on another motorist during a road rage incident, and it turns out this responsible gun owner's CCW permit was also expired. Several members of his National Guard unit came forward and said on their deployment, their battalion commander ordered him to surrender his weapon, due to concerns about his mental state and constant reckless handling of firearms.

I can see they believe boats have the 2nd amendment rights. 

The best way I heard the movement summarized is that they treat the law as magic, and if they say the right spell, the state can do nothing but impotently wring its hands at them.

Pros: references to Varangian Guard
Cons: Shit writing
Weird sex
Weird sex involving rape
Weird sex involving underaged people
Weird sex involving rape and underaged people
Weird sex involving rape, underaged people, and shitty writing
Ignorance of basic military matters
Ignorance of plausibility
Complete lack of any editing
Shit writing

I'm still rooting for my favorite Episode VII fake spoiler coming true:
 
They have to shave Chewie halfway through and he's played by Vin Diesel.

I'm still rooting for my favorite Episode VII fake spoiler coming true:
 
They have to shave Chewie halfway through and he's played by Vin Diesel.